Show cloth names are traced to some other countries many of our names for cloth come to us from the orient calico Is from callcut calicut india the city from which it was first imported doubtless at first the term used was callcut calicut cloth but phrases often shrink in usage and calico was an easy evolution says the kansas city star madras also in india gave us the cloth which bears its name this was first made from silk and cotton but the name is applied to the same weave in cotton also a fabric which is much used tor for mens shirts damask is from damascus noted long ago for its fine steel blades and for its silks damask is characterized by woven designs which represent flowers or conventional figures it was originally made of silk but the name was later applied to the same weave in silk cotton rayon or wool used tor for hangings hannings hang ings and upholsteries upholster ies les and to linen woven tor for table napery and towels linsey woolsey is an old english name from linsel linen and dolsye wool many woolen fabrics bear english names such as melton from a town of that name in leibes hershire ter shire and worsted from a town in norfolk |